Andy Awford
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew Terry Awford | ||
| Date of birth | 14 July 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Worcester, England | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Portsmouth (academy manager) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1987–1989 | Worcester City | ||
| 1989–2000 | Portsmouth | 313 | (3) |
| International career | |||
| 1992–1993 | England U21 | 10 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2011– | Portsmouth Academy | ||
| 2013 | Portsmouth (Caretaker manager) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Andy Awford (born 14 July 1972 in Worcester, England) is a former football player and currently academy manager at Portsmouth.
Playing career
Awford began his career at his home-town club Worcester City, where he became the youngest player ever to appear in the FA Cup, aged just 15 years 88 days, when he came on as substitute in a tie at Boreham Wood.[1]
Impressive displays at left-back meant he signed professional terms with Portsmouth, for whom he went on to make almost 400 first-team appearances, and helped them reach the FA Cup semi-finals in 1992. In this time he also played nine times for England under 21s.
But his career is a prime case of what might have been. He missed out on the Cup final when they lost a penalty shootout to Liverpool, the following season Pompey missed promotion to the Premier League by one goal, and hopes of a big-money move were wrecked by a broken leg which kept him out of the game for 14 months.
His subsequent knee problems never completely healed, and he retired following the 2000/01 season, his last competitive appearance for Pompey coming against QPR on 4 November 2000.[2]
Coaching work
After retiring, Awford took up the position of chief scout and later reserve team manager at Portsmouth. In April 2006, he was appointed the first team coach at Oxford United under Jim Smith and in June 2008 became assistant manager of Bognor Regis Town. Andy Awford resigned along with manager Mick Jenkins on 3 January 2009.
In 2011 he was appointed to the role of Academy manager at Portsmouth.[3] Following Michael Appleton's move to Blackpool in November 2012, Guy Whittingham was made caretaker manager of Portsmouth with Awford appointed as his assistant. Despite being given only temporary roles, the pair remained in charge for the rest of the 2012/2013 season. In November 2013 Whittingham, who had been named as permanent manager, was sacked and Awford named as caretaker manager.[4]
Personal life
Awford has a daughter and a son, Nick, who also plays for Portsmouth
References
- ^ "Gills' Freeman makes Cup history". BBC. 12 November 2007. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "QPR 1–1 Portsmouth". BBC. 4 November 2000. Retrieved 12 March 2010.
- ^ "Awford backed for youth revolution". The News (Portsmouth). 5 February 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
- ^ "Portsmouth have parted company with manager Guy Whittingham". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
External links
- Use dmy dates from March 2013
- 1972 births
- Living people
- People from Worcester
- English footballers
- England under-21 international footballers
- Portsmouth F.C. players
- Worcester City F.C. players
- The Football League players
- English football managers
- The Football League managers
- Portsmouth F.C. managers
- Association football defenders